📘 GCE A/L ICT Syllabus
Grades 12 & 13 | Department of Education, NIE Sri Lanka
Information and Communication Technology
🌐 ICT is a powerful tool in today's digital world. This syllabus guides your journey into computers, networks, programming, web development, databases, and emerging technologies.
🎓 Total Periods: 442 periods (Grades 12 & 13) + 30 periods for Individual Project
🔹 Competency 1: Concepts & Role of ICT
Explore how ICT transforms data into meaningful information.
- Understand data vs information, life cycle of data, and quality of information
- Learn the impact of ICT in decision-making, planning, and daily life
- Explore technologies like Internet, WWW, mobile/cloud computing
- Components of an ICT system – hardware, software, human operators
- Understand data processing stages – collection, validation, storage, etc.
- ICT applications in: Education, Healthcare, Business, Law, Media
- Learn about digital divide, legal/ethical concerns, and SDG goals
🕒 Total: 28 periods
🔹 Competency 2: Computer Evolution & Hardware
Understand how computers evolved and how modern hardware works.
- Learn history & generations (1G–5G) of computers
- Classify computers by size (PC, supercomputers), type (analog/digital)
- Identify input/output/storage devices (e.g., scanners, webcams, SSDs)
- Understand Von Neumann architecture & CPU structure (ALU, CU, etc.)
- Explore memory types: RAM, ROM, Cache, Virtual Memory
🕒 Total: 22 periods
🔹 Competency 3: Data Representation
Understand how data is represented and processed inside computers.
- Convert between binary, decimal, octal, hexadecimal
- Perform binary arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction)
- Learn character encoding (ASCII, Unicode, EBCDIC)
- Understand 1's and 2's complement, logic & bitwise operations
🕒 Total: 18 periods
🔹 Competency 4: Digital Circuits & Logic
Learn digital logic to build simple circuits.
- Use logic gates (AND, OR, NOT, XOR, NAND, NOR)
- Simplify using Boolean Algebra & Karnaugh maps
- Build adders (half/full) & understand flip-flops
- Design basic logic circuits with real-life use
- Notes-1 Logic Gates and Truth Table
- Notes-2 Operator Precedence
- Notes-3 Min Max term
- Notes-4 CSOP and CPOS
🕒 Total: 26 periods
🔹 Competency 5: Operating Systems
Understand how OS controls the computer system.
- OS functions: process, memory, file & resource management
- File systems, folder hierarchies, security & formatting
- Process lifecycle, scheduling & context switching
- Explore memory (MMU, virtual memory) & device drivers
🕒 Total: 22 periods
🔹 Competency 6: Data Communication & Networks
Master how data travels between computers and networks.
- Signal types (analog/digital), media (wired/wireless)
- Topologies: star, ring, mesh, bus
- IP addressing, subnets, MAC, DNS, DHCP
- Internet protocols (TCP/UDP), routers, gateways
- Encryption, malware, antivirus, firewall, NAT, ISPs
🕒 Total: 50 periods
🔹 Competency 7: System Analysis & Design
Learn to design and model information systems.
- Understand system types (OAS, TPS, MIS, DSS)
- System development models: Waterfall, Spiral, Agile, RAD
- Use tools: DFDs, ER diagrams, Process Descriptions
- System design, testing, deployment, & maintenance
🕒 Total: 68 periods
🔹 Competency 8: Database Management Systems (DBMS)
Create, manage and normalize databases using SQL.
- Understand relational models, constraints, tables
- SQL: DDL (CREATE, ALTER), DML (INSERT, SELECT, DELETE)
- Draw ER diagrams and transform into logical schemas
- Normalize data (1NF, 2NF, 3NF) to eliminate redundancy
🕒 Total: 50 periods
🔹 Competency 9: Programming with Python
Develop coding skills using structured programming.
- Problem solving with flowcharts, pseudocode, stepwise refinement
- Python: variables, data types, I/O, control structures
- Loops, functions, modules, recursion, file handling
- Connect with databases using Python + SQL
- Use sorting (bubble sort), searching techniques
🕒 Total: 74 periods
🔹 Competency 10: Web Development
Design websites using HTML5, CSS, PHP & MySQL.
- Build static/dynamic web pages with forms, tables, media
- Style using CSS – inline, internal, external
- Backend with PHP – handle forms, validate inputs, connect DB
- Host websites locally & online using free hosting
🕒 Total: 60 periods
🔹 Competency 11: IoT & Smart Systems
Build simple smart systems using microcontrollers.
- Use Arduino or Raspberry Pi for projects (fan, light, switch)
- Create basic IoT apps to control devices online
🕒 Total: 15 periods
🔹 Competency 12: ICT in Business
Understand the use of ICT in business and e-commerce.
- ICT in business areas: HR, Accounting, Marketing, SCM
- Secure e-payments, gateways, PayPal, Bitcoin
- E-commerce types: B2B, B2C, C2C, etc.
- Competitive advantages through databases & AI
🕒 Total: 12 periods
🔹 Competency 13: New Trends in ICT
Explore future-ready ICT innovations.
- Artificial Intelligence & Emotional Computing
- Quantum Computing & Agent Systems
- Beyond Von Neumann – new computing models
🕒 Total: 12 periods
🔹 Competency 14: Final Year Project
Design and implement your own ICT system.
- Conduct, document, and present an individual real-world ICT project
- Apply all learning: design, build, test & demonstrate
- Term 1 Model Exam 2026
🕒 Total: 30 periods
🎯 Why Choose ICT for A/Ls?
- Prepares you for university & careers in IT
- Improves 21st-century tech skills
- Builds real-world problem-solving ability
- Gateway to fields like AI, Software Development, Cybersecurity
No comments:
Post a Comment